The women accused Schneiderman in an article published in The New Yorker.

"It's been my great honor and privilege to serve as Attorney General for the people of the State of New York. In the last several hours, serious allegations, which I strongly contest, have been made against me," Schneiderman said in a statement as published by CNN.

"While these allegations are unrelated to my professional conduct or the operations of the office, they will effectively prevent me from leading the office's work at this critical time. I therefore resign my office, effective at the close of business on May 8, 2018," he said.

He was considered as a rising star in Democratic politics.

He gained attention as a  fierce opponent and critic of US President Donald Trump, reports said.

Schneiderman has also been a vocal proponent of the #MeToo movement, bringing legal action in New York against film producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of sexually assaulting women, reported CNN.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo had earlier demanded Schneiderman's resignation.

In a statement, Cuomo said: "I will be asking an appropriate New York District Attorney to commence an immediate investigation, and proceed as the facts merit."

He said: "My personal opinion is that, given the damning pattern of facts and corroboration laid out in the article, I do not believe it is possible for Eric Schneiderman to continue to serve as Attorney General, and for the good of the office, he should resign."

The New Yorker magazine reported the allegations of the four women against Schneiderman on Monday.

Two of the women, Michelle Manning Barish and Tanya Selvaratnam, spoke on the record to the magazine, saying they had been romantically involved with Schneiderman but that the violence was nonconsensual, which The New Yorker described as occurring "often after drinking, frequently in bed and never with their consent", reported CNN.

Image: twitter.com/AGSchneiderman